The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


Interview with Hadouken!

Interview with Hadouken!
26 July 2012
Matt Di Salvo
Avatar
Matt Di Salvo
26 July 2012

Before Hadouken! take to the stage at the iconic Ministry of Sound venue tonight we had the chance to catch up with band members James Smith and Alice Spooner for the latest news from them and what they have in store for the future.

 

I’ve heard you guys have been at it; working non-stop so when is the new album out?

James: Hopefully early next year.

Oh brilliant, and you’ve been signed to Ministry of Sound. How’s that working out?

J: Really well! They’re obviously quite an iconic label so we’re really proud to be a part of their legacy – they’ve got a really good track record and they’re really enjoyable to work with.

Yes – Wretch 32, Example and DJ Fresh are all producing number one hits so it must be cool to be a part of that. Is there any creative restraint at all since you’ve changed label?

J: I wouldn’t say so. The guy we work with – David, really pushes us to the next level. He’s always asking us if we can better the track but doesn’t have any say on what direction we’re taking. He lets us make our own decisions. Working with them I find you don’t get trapped or frustrated.

Both singles, Parasite and Bad Signal, have been named hottest records on the planet by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1, which is obviously great. We noticed that both seem quite dubstep-influenced. Is that what to expect to see on the rest of the album?

J: Not really actually, Parasite has that bass line figure going on but is more of a drum and bass record and Bad Signal has a dubstep vibe but that’s about it for the rest of the record – it has more of a house tempo.

OK, we also noticed that you gave Parasite away for free. A lot of artists around seem to be doing that at the moment, is that only for promotional reasons?

J: Well it’s a good way of getting it out there, we haven’t had a record in about 2 years and we wanted to get back in everyone’s faces without having to charge people for it.

Alice: we started five years ago, giving away That boy, that girl and other records for free on Myspace and it didn’t do us any harm. It spreads so much easier that way.

Obviously you guys did a lot of remixing back in the day – for Plan B and Bloc Party. Are you still enthusiastic about that? Will we see any of it in the future?

J: Yeah we’d love to do some remixes, we just have to wait for the right record to come up and make sure we have the time to do it.

And the grime scene was a big influence on you in the beginning, what artists made you incorporate that genre into your sound?

J: Early Wiley stuff, especially when he was producing, Musical Mob, Nasty Crew, a lot of the Rinse FM stuff.

What do you think of it now?

J: Don’t really listen to it anymore – it’s something I’ve grown out of but I still think it’s an exciting and strong scene.

What about the dubstep scene?

J: I really like that party scene, not so much dubstep but the artist surrounding dance music – especially from America. They really put on a show.

And you’re playing Reading this year! Does it ever take it out of you, all the touring?

A: yeah we’re pretty pumped about that. There was only one time when we did a stint of 3 months non-stop and there were like 14 people on a bus and it got a bit cabin-feverish and claustrophobic. But other than that we enjoy travelling a lot and seeing other parts of the world – touring is great fun.

Matt Di Salvo 

Listen to the hot single Parasite by Hadouken here:

Related Items

More in

The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre

★★★★★
Daniel Amir
Read More

The story behind Axl Rose

The editorial unit
Read More

The Prudes at the Royal Court

★★★★★
Laura Foulger
Read More

Absolute Hell at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Connor Campbell
Read More

The Wound (Inxeba)

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018

The editorial unit
Read More

Strictly Ballroom at Piccadilly Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

The Writer at the Almeida Theatre

★★★★★
Connor Campbell
Read More

Avengers: Infinity War

★★★★★
Aidan Milan
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Project Gastronomía: How will Londoners eat in 2050? A symposium on gastronomy and multisensory design
    Food & Drinks
  • Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018
    Food & Drinks
  • Tokio Myers at the Forum
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema
  • The Outsider: An interview with director Thomas Meadmore
    Cinema
  • The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Prudes at the Royal Court
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Absolute Hell at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Wound (Inxeba)
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018
    Food & Drinks
  • The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Prudes at the Royal Court
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Wound (Inxeba)
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Strictly Ballroom at Piccadilly Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Writer at the Almeida Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre

Instagram

Something is wrong. Response takes too long or there is JS error. Press Ctrl+Shift+J or Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • New London restaurant openings and pop-ups
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Subscribe
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd